A sharp uptick in user activity on Indraprastha Gas Limited’s (IGL) mobile app and a surge in piped natural gas (PNG) connections across the NCR signal a shift in consumer behaviour, Times of India reported, as concerns over liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) availability grow amid supply disruptions linked to escalating US-Iran tensions.
LPG, supplied in cylinders through a distribution network, is increasingly being seen as less reliable in the current environment, pushing households and businesses to explore PNG, which is delivered directly through underground pipelines.
According to official data, the IGL Connect app logged over 22,000 new registrations in the first 15 days of March – a 14% jump over February’s pace. “The trend suggests that more users are not only downloading the app, but also actively signing up, possibly to secure uninterrupted access to cooking gas,” an official said.
The rise in digital engagement has been mirrored on the ground. Since March 1, IGL has started gas supply to more than 15,000 new households, while installation capacity has been ramped up significantly to 1,300-1,500 connections per day.
“Earlier this year, the average installation rate stood around 600-700 connections daily, highlighting a rapid scaling up of operations in response to growing demand,” an IGL spokesperson said.
The company’s expanding digital footprint underscores the trend. The IGL Connect platform now has nearly 8.5 lakh active users, with total registrations crossing 13 lakh.
Officials said the shift is not limited to households. Commercial establishments – including restaurants, hotels and small industries – are also showing heightened interest in PNG. Weekly business queries have jumped from around 20 to nearly 140, indicating a broader move towards alternative fuel sources.
To methe surge, IGL has doubled its project and installation capacity, aiming to ensure that increased demand does not translate into delays. “We are coming up with offers where, on switching to PNG before March 31, one can get a Rs 500 discount on the bill,” a senior official said.
Policy nudges are also reinforcing the transition. The government has said households with PNG connections will no longer be allowed to obtain a new LPG connection or retain an additional one. In a notice, the ministry of petroleum and natural gas directed households that already have PNG access but are not using it to begin availing the service.
India currently has about 1.6 crore PNG connections, of which over 1 crore are active. The government has also asked city gas distribution companies to accelerate the conversion of remaining consumers in areas where pipeline infrastructure is already in place and households are willing to switch.
Taken together, the supply concerns, policy push and infrastructure ramp-up appear to be driving a decisive shift towards PNG in urban centres.
